Fried by Jury by Claudia Bishop

Author:Claudia Bishop [Bishop, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9781587246203
Google: fWiBNwAACAAJ
Goodreads: 1893686
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2003-05-05T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she said to Dr. Benziger. It was Wednesday. She had a morning appointment. She had spent the rest of the evening in long discussions with John, then Meg, and finally Myles, who’d called from Syracuse to say goodnight. She had a list of potential suspects/witnesses to interview.

She was going to solve this case.

She’d been both passionate and eloquent with Dr. Benziger, too. He couldn’t possibly be bored when the topic was murder. She felt.. . purposeful. That was it. And not at all confused.

“You have contradictory emotions because law and justice have little to do with one another? Or because no one seems to care about Banion O’Haggerty’s death? Or because Charlene is a beautiful woman who has been used by men all her life?” Dr. Benziger’s hands were clasped loosely in his lap. His gaze was kind.

“Everyone cares about murder!” she said indignantly.

He shrugged. What did that mean? Did he think she was naive?

Quill pressed on. “Of course, everyone has a different reason to care. Harry just seemed indifferent because he’s a suspect. I figured this out, too. Charlene didn’t want me to mention her marriage to Banion because Harry’s put a gag order on her. If not,” she added dispiritedly, “an actual gag. He’s an awful human being. Now, Myles? Myles cares about justice. He always has. It’s one of the reasons . ..” She trailed off. Dr. Benziger raised one eyebrow in an encouraging way and prompted, “One of the reasons? Yes?”

Quill veered like a squirrel in front of a pickup. “And Brewster and Devlin seem to care because their client might be implicated. Did I tell you that both of them collared me at breakfast and asked me at least five hundred pointed questions about the case? They care, all right.”

“Yes, you did. And why do you care about the murder?”

“Why do you keep coming back to what I think?”

Dr. Benziger took a deep breath. Then he exhaled. Then he said, “Because that’s why you’re here,” in such a mild way that Quill was abashed. Then she began to worry that Dr. Benziger would a. find her stupid, which was just as bad as b. boring, and worse than startling, distressing, or discomposing him.

Dr, Benziger re-crossed his legs. “Let’s get back to Charlene. I think it’s important to understand why Charlene has affected you so strongly. You defended her by keeping silent about her marriage to ... I’m sorry. I’m getting a little confused. What was his name?”

“Banion O’Haggerty.”

“Thank you. What’s significant, Quill, is that you did not betray her. Why don’t we talk about your decision to do that?”

“She’s .. . vulnerable.”

“Yes? And how does that make you feel?”

“It’s unfair to take advantage of vulnerable people.” Quill veered again. She knew she was doing it. She couldn’t help it. “Now Harry, he’s about as vulnerable as a granite cliff. Harry could have committed this murder out of jealousy. Charlie, out of spite, to wreck the contest. Poor Elmer, out of desperation.

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